ADD Organizing: Professional Structure & Support

Sometimes family and friends as organizing help just isn’t enough.

Because they are impacted by your organizing difficulties, their motivation and patience to help may be limited. That’s when skilled professionals come in. You are the final say about which kind of help you need, whether ADD coaching, psychotherapists, or professional organizers. Each has its own strengths and limits, so that’s when you must make the decision about which will be most helpful to you.

ADD Coaches

Most ADD coaches work by telephone, although you may meet initially in person and periodically thereafter. Their greatest strength is in helping you develop and maintain habits that keep you organized once you get there.

A coach can help you analyze daily habits that create disorder. They can help you sort through your routines (or lack thereof) and decide whether they are beneficial or not. A coach can help you problem-solve to build new habits. They can help you decide what routines can be implemented within your own personality that will help you get organized and stay that way. A coach can provide structure and support as you work toward making habits and routines part of your daily pattern.

Professional Organizers

Sometimes ADD adults are so overwhelmed by disorder that they cannot even begin to create order. This is where a professional organizer (PO) can really help. Whether you need a “digout” or simply help to get started, a professional organizer can be the key. A PO can help you create solutions custom-designed to work for you in your own environment and can assist you by providing hands-on support as you implement the solutions. Additionally, a PO has the resources to suggest products and services to enhance your organization. Be sure the PO you select is encouraging, supportive, and nonjudgemental. Yours is NOT the biggest mess they’ve ever seen!

Here are some helpful questions to ask a Professional Organizer before you hire one.

How long have you been in business?

What is your area of expertise?

Do you have experience with ADD?

Do you have references I can contact?

It is very important that you find someone with whom you are comfortable and who has experience working with ADD.

Psychotherapists

Sometimes there are emotional issues that lead to disorganization and that’s where a psychotherapist can really be of help. Some of the issues that may impact your organization efforts are:

Unrealistic expectations.

Depression

Anxiety

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

These issues are best addressed by a psychotherapist, and their resolution may be the thing that has been holding back your organization efforts. A psychotherapist can help you learn more about yourself and how ADD affects you, and can assist you in developing strategies to counteract the tendencies that distract you from your goals.